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Transcript

Headquarters
Sunday Nov. 19th,/71
My Dear Son
Today is the first effort I have made to
write you although I have much desired to do so.
Your letter of Oct 29th only reached me a week since it
had no doubt been at the Cedar Bayou Office for some
time as I had no means of sending over there. The two
papers you sent came with it, all of which gave me much
real pleasure. And since their reception your second
letter of Nov 8th has been received. And when I read
it I regretted not having written you, if but a dozen
lines to let you know Sams trade with Col Smith
had proved a failure very greatly to his disappoint-
ment as much or more on your account than his
own. The wednesday after you left he launched his
Boat and the Wednesday after that went to Gal[veston] with a
small load of wood which only enabled him to pay
off Charlie the Irishman who had been here assisting
him and purchase such supplies as his family
were in need of, he will start down with an other
load in a few days. When he will have to Regis
ter as he did not stay to do so before. I believe he
has pretty much given up going to Lynchburg, has the
offer of cutting for one half wood for one half on a small tract of land be-
longing to Mrs Francks just above Mr. Bushes, he
would also have the privilege of taking off her half
on shares or could purchase it on the bank at what-
ever it was worth. I do not think all this will pay
him as well as more active business at the
“Burg” but until he is out of debt he feels anxious
to run the Boat himself. It looks well and does fine
in all respects and can carry eight cords or nearly so
Sams intends sending you some money just as
soon as possible I do not know how soon that
will be
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My darling Son you little know how anxious I
desire to have you supplied with means to sustain
yourself until you can realize means from your
just labor. I saw Gaston a few days since, and as I had
not written you asked him to do so, and to send you
some money at the earliest time possible. You may
have to call on Mr. Sydnor for a small sum in addi
-tion to what you have had. I trust this thing will soon be
at an end as Gaston & Sam will be able in a little time
to keep you supplied
I am truly glad to hear your health
has improved so much. I think if you are at all
careful in regard to diet and exposure you will soon
be in perfect health. I rejoice also that you are so pleas-
ently situated and are in the way of making arguable
acquaintances, and are in atmosphere calculated
to improve you in so many way[s]. Study human
nature and “tact” as well as books. I have a profound
respect for “book larning” but it wont succeed as well
in this fast age as tact combined with a good deal
of humbug; under all circumstances keep up
appearances and good spirits. I shall never give
it up until my dying day that better times are
not coming. And but for this some hope what
would become of the best of us. I am still here
have moved out some of the things in my room and
put up my little stove which keeps us quite
comfortable, put it up where the secretary stood
I was so certain Sam would move to Lynchburg that I
asked Gaston & Sallie to come here and live with
me, all the rent I asked them was my board and
clothing as the place would have to under go re-
pairs before it was habitable no certain time was
agreed upon as none of us can tell what a year may
bring both, in consequence of my offer Gaston
rented his mothers place and could move
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here in two or three weeks. After he told me he had
rented out his place I spoke to Sam about it when
he told me he had given up all idea of moving to the
Burg and the calculation is clearly to stay here. I of course
feel in a very unpleasant situation all round. You
well know I have given up the place to Sam for two
years past for nothing in the way of rent just for the
sake of assisting him all I could beside amply sup-
porting myself all last year. I can but think it
rather a hard case that, I cannot now have my
home to use as I please. God knows I am willing
to make every sacrifice within the bounds of
reason to aid him, but the place is daily falling
to pieces which is a source of annoyance to me
fences all down house nearly so, and in discom-
fort for all as they now are. My present deter
mination is to leave here just as soon as Gaston
gets settled, for two reasons, I cannot witness the utter
desolation of this place and call it home secondly
I have promised Sallie to stay with her until
she can get her health reestablished if that is
a thing possible, and I well know she cannot
be cured in any very short time. I feel it my
duty to give her whatever assistance is in my
power. But enough of this, all things still work
out right I confidently believe
The ambrotype was not
returned to me by the Appletons it like the man-
uscript I presume is destroyed. This likeness was
taken by Brady of New York and I think you father
told me they kept one for themselves in case the same
parties are still in New York you might enquire
of them and doubtless they would send you one, some
leading paper of that City would have their card
in it in case they are still there a thing not impos
-sible I think
------------------------------------------------------------------
I will be very glad to get any papers you may be
able to send me I saw your card in the Daily
News Samuel brought up before the papers you
sent came. You may rest assured I often think
of you and with feelings of pride and pleasure
God our Heavenly Father only know how anxious I am
for your success I could die in peace if I could
see all my children settled and doing well
Little Charles spent a week with me here we gath-
ered Pecans and Walnuts at the old Brook place
and what Walnuts were here. Little baby walks
quite well now and is perfectly well. My own
health is tolerable good I have rheumatism in
my knees which at times makes me quite lame
but for it I would be very well all the time
Write me as often as possible as you letters
give me much pleasure. Give my love to
Mrs Bryan & family how is Edd B getting on
and what is Miss Mary doing with herself
I have not been off the place but ever since
you left here spent one day and night with “Sis”
I am writing with bad ink and not a very good
pen and this is the first letter I have written
in six months
As ever your loving Mother
Mary Jones
Samuel starts for Galveston this evening
where this will be mailed there.